Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely young daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.

This isn’t a game. There are real lives and real small business livelihoods at stake in the
debate over the fiscal cliff, and that means our economic recovery is at stake too.

According to U.S. Chamber small business members, 83% of those surveyed say the
impeding fiscal cliff will negatively impact their business. 59% will reduce their
workforce as a result and 73% will forgo plans for expanding their operations.

We’ve heard economists and policy experts tell us going off the fiscal cliff will lead to a
recession – but now we’ve heard from real small business owners saying they will lay off
employees, shrink operations, and forgo investments, all of which will lead to declined
growth.

But numbers only tell part of the story. Our small business members have beensharing their stories with us by explaining the gravity of their situation as we
count the days to the end of the year.

Read their stories first hand below:

“Because Washington bureaucrats continue to play poker with our
nation’s economy my business plans are on hold. I would have hired
more people this month if the tax and budget issues had been dealt with
properly. So now we wait to see what will happen. This is not a game to
my employees this is their livelihood and they need answers now.”

- Clinton, CT

“We have no plans for hiring or making any major business purchases
next year given the fiscal cliff likelihood. The failure of the President and
Congress to provide tax reform and entitlement reform or even a marginal
agreement to prevent the fiscal cliff will make economic conditions difficult
for any business to survive.”

- Bethesda, MD

“I've already had business drop off by 50 percent due the pending
tax increases”

- Jasper, AL

“We have already downsized staff causing others to work harder.
Any tax increase will be dealt with by further decreasing expenses.
This will mean layoffs and cause us to not make capital expenditures
for new equipment and software.”

- New Orleans, LA

These are just a few examples of small business owners who will bear the brunt of the
negative fiscal cliff impacts if Congress doesn’t act.

Rob Engstrom
Senior Vice President and National Political Director
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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